Each week, we’ll take a quick look at the biggest stories to emerge in the early games.
1. Miami’s defense has been reborn. The decision to jettison Joey Porter and Jason Taylor looks great. Cameron Wake has been flying off the edge, cornerback Vontae Davis looks like a Pro Bowler at cornerback, and Karlos Dansby has been a huge difference maker at linebacker.
Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan may have been the biggest offseason acquisition. Miami won in Minnesota despite two back-breaking fumbles by Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown. It shouldn’t have been as close as the 14-10 score suggested.
2. The AFC North is going to be a defensive bloodbath. No defense has looked better this season than the Steelers, who now look likely to survive Ben Roethlisberger’s absence at 3-1 at worst.
The Bengals defense also made an early statement that last year wasn’t a fluke in their 15-10 win. Winning at home against Baltimore was a nice early step towards making this a three-team race. Cincinnati would have trailed the Steelers and Ravens by two games if they lost.
3. So much for the Browns’ progress. This was the soft part of their schedule, and they have two losses, albeit close ones, to the Chiefs and Bucs. They are built to win with the running game and they averaged only 2.8 yards-per-carry Sunday.
4. Dallas will be the story after going 0-2, but don’t overlook what the Bears have done. Jay Cutler made passes on Sunday that other NFL quarterbacks simply can’t make. He took a ton of hits early and responded. The Bears have a lot of weapons around him and Mike Martz has kept Greg Olsen heavily involved.
Chicago’s roster is top heavy, but Julius Peppers has made a big difference. The Bears defense has a lot more life to it than it did a year ago.
5. Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith had to enjoy the Vikings game. Minnesota’s receivers can’t get open on the outside, and Percy Harvin was injured. Again. If this result doesn’t make the Vikings trade for Vincent Jackson, nothing will.
Incidentally, Vikings fans should step off the ledge. Adrian Peterson looked strong, and Favre wasn’t that far off despite his three picks. They lost to two quality teams. Favre needs to step his play big-time, but he improved after a slow start last year. Even as someone that picked the Vikings to miss the playoffs this year, I say it’s a little early to panic.
